The inherent Japanese vibe of the series is quite remarkable, whether you're looking at the unique stages or paying attention to the catchy (but decidedly childish) tunes and sound effects. You'll also be able to unlock new balls as you progress, turning the standard marble into a panda bear, a pug, or even your own Mii! Each sphere has different characteristics, and therefore you might want to make varied choices based upon the stage design. Some levels might require a more bouncy approach, while others will entail more patience and a slower, less slippery ball.

Fortunately, the physics are very well implemented in this title, so there won't be more frustration than that generated by your own impatience or, ultimately, lack of expertise. You don't really control the ball, but rather the environment. This is easily done by tilting the Wii Remote accordingly. The controls are very intuitive throughout the game, and there are only a few elements that make things a little trickier, such as the cannons, which will launch your ball in unpredictable directions. You're supposed to tweak its trajectory quickly, but you don't have more than a split second to correct the position of the Wii Remote, so it's definitely challenging and not as satisfying as other obstacles you'll overcome by exaggeratedly tilting the Wii Remote or letting the ball bounce a couple of times and then making it stop abruptly.

You can change the set-up and hold the Wii-mote vertically or horizontally during gameplay, but I prefer the latter choice, as it seems more natural and also less tiring. Either way, getting through the game isn't too hard. Granted, things get more difficult as you advance, but it never reaches "impossible" levels of difficulty. Of course, if you want to step it up a bit, you can always replay the levels in Hard mode once you unlock it.

If you're a chill person with a decent amount of skill and enjoy casual games, you will have a great time playing Marble Saga: Kororinpa. The game is very entertaining, and it allows you to relax and have a good time without worrying about Chimera, Locust, and the likes. In addition, it puts the Wii motion controls to good use, unlike other Wii releases. If you have a few friends, you can even compete with them in four-player, split-screen mode, which adds a ton of pressure but makes the game even more fun. I wouldn't recommend this game to people who become angry easily or want to get things done fast. Patience is a definite virtue in this series, and if you're not made for that, well Kororinpa is not for you.

By
Maria Montoro
CCC Site Director

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

3.9

GraphicsA step up from the previous game. The stages contain more details throughout and interesting (though fuzzy) backgrounds.

4.4

ControlThe physics are right on. Controlling the ball with the Wii Remote is easy - you just have to be precise. Balance Board controls are accurate as well, though they require more effort.

3.6

Music
/ Sound FX / Voice ActingCatchy tunes work well with the game and are cute, but they're a little annoying after a while, mostly due to their simplistic and childish vibe.

4.3

Play ValueThere's a ton of things to do, starting with the many dozens of levels of varying difficulties plus the Balance Board stages. Between beating your own records, unlocking stuff, competing against up to three others, and creating and sharing your own levels, it seems like the fun never stops - unless this game is just not for you.

4.0

Overall Rating -
GreatNot an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

Design your ball: Use upgrades to help you navigate through stages, place your Mii inside of the marble and watch him or her roll, or select preset fun avatars including rolling UFOs complete with shrieking Aliens in them.

Can't get enough of the game? Edit Mode allows you to design you own unique stage. Design it any way you would like and play it over and over.

Wii Connect 24: After you are done creating and playing your own stages, share them with your friends through Wii Connect 24.

The Story Lives On: Receive extra stages from Hudson after launch via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

Wi-Fi Leaderboards: Compete online against other players over who can navigate throughout the world the fastest.

Wii Balance Board: "Be the Ball" using the Balance Board.

Widgets and More Widgets: 40 different widgets to help guide your marble including magnets, cannon vaults, shrinking machines, acceleration tubes, movable bridges, and much more.

Four Person Multiplayer: Play with three other people on the same map as you race to the finish line.